Did Jesus preach the gospel to the dead in hell?

The writer does not know how widely this view is held, but there are some who believe when Jesus died, that his spirit went to hell and preached the gospel to the dead.[i]

The question then would be if he indeed did this, to whom did he evangelize and why?

In 1 Peter 3:18-20 we read this, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who formerly were disobedient when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is eight souls were saved through water.”

The term preached in verse 19 is the Greek work kērussō which means to herald or proclaim. This is not in reference to preaching the gospel which is defined by a different Greek word, euangelizō. The spirits mentioned in verse 19 are not in reference to human spirits, but demon spirits. Between Jesus death and resurrection his human spirit went to the lower parts of the earth and heralded victory over the evil spirits who are confined to some sort of prison in the underworld.

These are the spirits made reference to by Peter and Jude. 2 Peter 2:4 says, “For if God did not spare the angels that sinned (Genesis 6. i.e. Sons of God), but cast them down to hell (Greek word is Tartarus the lowest and darkest place in Greek mythology) and delivered into chains of darkness to be reserved for judgment.”

Jude 6 makes reference to these same wicked beings stating they did not keep their first estate or abode, but are in everlasting chains awaiting final judgment which is the eternal Lake of Fire (Rev 20:10).

This region is not where the wicked human spirits descend to, but a special place where these evil angelic spirits are consigned to.

Of course not all demons are bound. Many of them are on the earth today doing Satan’s bidding.

Another text that relates to what Jesus did when he descended is Colossians 2:15, “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to an open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

The words rulers and authorities make reference to ranks of angels. Jesus defeated Satan and the kingdom of darkness when he died on the cross. His lowest point of humiliation was also his greatest exaltation because he rose from the dead (Genesis 3:1;John 12:30; 1 John 3:8).

                                                           What about Abraham’s bosom?

 There is also a belief that the O.T. saints were not in heaven when they died, but their souls were in a part of the underworld called Paradise or Abraham’s bosom – a Talmudic expression for heaven. We read about this account in Luke 16:19-31 where there is a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. Eventually, both men die. Lazarus goes to Abraham’s bosom a place of comfort, and the rich man is in hell being tormented in flames.

It’s been debated whether this account is a parable or an actual event in history. The writer leans toward this being a parable. The gist of the account is that heaven and hell are real places. Lazarus was at Abraham’s side, the place of honor in comfort (heaven), and the rich man is eternally separated from God in anguish (hell).

The reality that a rich man could go to hell and a poor man go to heaven was despicable to the Pharisees thinking because they loved money (Luke 16:14). A rich man was deemed as blessed and favored of God whereas a poor man was disfavored and despised by God. In this account Jesus taught the exact opposite of what the Pharisees believed.

Due to the fact that the rich man recognizes Abraham and Lazarus give some the illusion that Abraham’s bosom and hell were in proximity due to the mention of a great gulf between the two places. What is interesting is that gulf was so wide that it was impossible for one to reach the other (Luke 16:26). We’re dealing with literally the “other side” (i.e. the abode of the dead), and from this narrative the occupants of heaven and hell communicated with one another.[ii]  The writer does not believe that Abraham’s bosom was a literal place in the underworld were O.T. saints were kept prior to Jesus coming down to preach the gospel to them so they could believe on him, be saved, and then be taken to heaven; i.e. led captivity captive (Ephesians 4:8-10). The saints of old were already justified by faith when they were chosen by God and believed his word.[iii] Their spirits went to be immediately with the Lord at death. Abraham’s bosom I believe is a euphemism for heaven.[iv] We know the bible says God took Enoch up to heaven with him (Genesis 5:24). Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1, 11). Jesus said many will come from the east and west and sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8:11). Jesus told the thief on the cross, “this day you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Both Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration clearly indicating both were in heaven before the crucifixion (Matt 17:1-4; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:26, 27).

Scripture also tells us to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8). 

These texts clearly tell us a child of God even in the O.T. were immediately in the presence of the Lord after physical death or translation not in the underworld. So in the final analysis, it is unbiblical to assume that Jesus went to hell or Hades to preach the gospel to dead souls.  The gospel is for the living not the dead – whether human or demonic.

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[i] i.e. O.T. Saints not the wicked dead. The hell I’m making reference to is regarding the grave the abode of the dead, not the place of torment.

[ii] The writer will not present this case dogmatically for we are dealing a McCabe issue. I do not believe anyone knows for sure what was going on completely between the rich man and Abraham; the accounts seems to support the idea there were two compartments in Hades, one for the righteous (pre-crucifixion) that was some sort of holding tank awaiting for Jesus to take them away between his death and resurrection, and the suffering part of Hades, the region for the wicked dead where the rich man abided in flames and torment.

[iii] It’s important for the reader to keep in mind that the word  O.T. saints received was the gospel (good news) too. It just was not as revelatory as the N.T. gospel because God had not manifested himself in the person of Jesus Christ back then. The word back then was powerful to save souls and it did, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, etc.

[iv] It’s a mystery to the writer why Jesus described heaven this way. Perhaps has to do specifically with his audience the Pharisees. They would have understood his language.

Who hardened Pharaoh's heart?

This is an interesting issue and a tough one I’m sure for many people when they read the account in the book of Exodus. Without careful study, it can be a very confusing narrative, and raise questions about the actions of God in dealing with Pharaoh. I will try to make some sense of it.

God speaking to Moses we read In Exodus 7:3-4, “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply signs, and my wonders in the land of Egypt, but Pharaoh will not heed you so that I may bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt with great judgments.”

However in Exodus 7:13, 23; 8:15,32; 9:6,34,35 it says that Pharaoh hardened his own heart and refused to heed the warnings of the Lord and let Israel go free.

So here’s the apparent dilemma if these passages are not handled properly.

On the surface it appears that God is hardening Pharaoh’s heart and subsequently punishing him for his obstinacy in refusing to let the people go. If that was the only reason for hardening’s Pharaoh’s heart, then God would be unfair. For why would God incite a certain sinful reaction out of Pharaoh, and then punish him for the reaction He provoked? God never tempted Pharaoh to sin (James 1:13).

The reason God hardened Pharaoh’s heart here is so that he could display His mighty power in front of this wicked ruler and the Lord’s name would be declared throughout all the earth (Exodus 9:16); to show 

Pharaoh that He (the Lord) is mightier than all the false gods of Egypt.

Pharaoh also hardened his own heart because he was a wicked man and refused to let the people go, refusing to acknowledge the God of the Hebrews. Pharaoh was a rotten sinner way before he ever encountered God. He was by no means innocent. Pharaoh acted independently, and was totally culpable for his actions. God used the wickedness of Pharaoh against him to display His mighty power in his midst.

The plagues struck against Egypt although very horrific when analyzed carefully exhibited great mercy to the Egyptians. The presence of God was among them, although negatively in judgment. Had they been wise, they would have feared, God, and used those opportunities of judgment against them to repent and be spared the calamities they suffered, but refused which already God knew.

                

Their destruction was just.

So in the final analysis, the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart served the following purposes:

      

 1.   God hardened his heart to display his awesome power among Pharaoh. The hardening God did to               Pharaoh was indirect .God abandoned Pharaoh to his own wicked devices by removing any moral restraints so that Pharaoh could sin on a wholesale basis; magnifying his stubbornness, and hastening his destruction (Romans 1:18-32).  It also shows that God has complete sovereignty over men’s hearts – providing mercy or hardening who he wants so that His purposes may stand (Proverbs 21:1; Roman 9:18). God used Pharaoh's sin as an advantage against him to magnify himself. 

2.       Pharaoh hardened his own heart due to his inherent wickedness.This he did autonomously figuring he was gaining an advantage each time. He was totally unaware that God was also hardening his heart for His own glorious purposes. Pharaoh hardened his heart continually when the power of God continually defeated him diminishing each time any hope of repentance.

Two passages describes Pharaoh’s wicked disposition and those like him:

Proverbs 28:14b says, “But he that hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”

A parallel verse appears in Proverbs 29:1, “He who often rebuked hardens his neck (i.e. stubbornness) will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

Every time a plague hit the land of Egypt, it was a judgment from God and a great and clear sign for Pharaoh to repent, but he refused. The "hardening advantage" Pharaoh thought he had was the same actual advantage the Lord used through Pharaoh's sin to judge and destroy him.

Pharaoh received what he deserved, divine justice.

Hebrews chapter 13 - Commentary

The writer list several things that we are to do:

A. Continue in brotherly love (vs. 1)

B. Be kind to strangers (vs. 2)

C. Be married, don't fornicate (vs. 4)

D. Follow the faithful that have spoken the word to you (vs. 7, 17, 24).

Hebrews chapter 12 - Commentary

The writer declares for us to run this race with patience as a result of the litany of heroes mentioned in the previous chapter. The writer declares that non of us will suffer to the degree that Jesus suffered (vs. 1-4).

Writer also exhorts us not to despise the chastening of the Lord for it's for our good and continued holiness (vs 5-11).

Verses 13-17 commands us  to walk uprightly and holy. The believer's righteous lifestyle aids in bringing the unregenerate to Christ. No one is brought to faith by osmosis. God uses men to deliver his word to convict all of sin.

Finally, the writer recounts what happened in Exodus 19 and 20 when the children of Israel were at Mt. Sinai and were forbidden to go near the mountain when God through Moses gave the decalogue (i.e. ten commandments).

Writer contrasts that account with the reality that we have been brought to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, where an innumerable company of angels dwell. This is our final glorious destination  (vs. 18-24).

Hebrews Chapter 11 - Commentary

This chapter deals with the heroes of the Faith. These individuals are regarded as godly examples of those who exhibited great faith in God in all types of circumstances. True faith in God is what declares one righteous in the sight of God.

Key verse - Hebrews 11:6, "but without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a re-warder of those that diligently seek Him."

Those described in this chapter:

- Abel vs. 4
- Enoch vs. 5
- Abraham vs. 8-9
- Sarah vs. 10
- Isaac  vs. 20
- Jacob vs. 21
- Joseph vs. 22
- Moses vs. 22-29

All these people and more believed God, looking forward to the promise(s) of God having never obtained them fully in their lifetime.

Enduring faith believes God unto death, not just a little while. This type of faith is patient, bold and fearless. This type of faith walks in full persuasion, trust and confidence in the word of God without wavering (2 Cor 4:18). This faith is motivated by love; hope and believes all things, and endures. This type of faith does not fail(Luke 22:31-32).

True faith always has the right object as it's bedrock, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:1).

Hebrews Chapter 10 - Commentary

Once again the writer reminds his readers that the sacrifice of bulls and goats could never remove sins; rather the ongoing sacrifices were a constant reminder of their sins. Their consciences were tainted because of sins (vs. 1-4).

In fact, the Lord never desired burnt sacrifices; they were merely types and shadows of the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ himself on the cross [(God the Father's altar) (vs. 5-10 from Psalm 40:6-8)].

Jesus sacrifice on the cross ratified the new/everlasting covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-32, (vs. 11-18). Vs. 18 is the same as Hebrews 9:22.

Verse 22 fulfills the O.T. ritual of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement when he washed in the basin outside the tabernacle after which he would put on the holy garments to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies to atone for his sins, his family and the entire nation (vs 19-22).

We're to keep believing in what Christ did for us without any doubt. God is faithful vs. 23.

Verses 26-31 gives severe warnings regarding our conduct toward what Jesus did for us; not to treat what he did with contempt for that's the attitude of the non believer. God will avenge himself on people with that type of evil mindedness. We are to fear God.

Verses 32-39 provide encouragement to Hebrew believers.

Verse 39 in particular proves that true believers will remain faithful. Why? Because God always preserves his chosen so that final salvation will be realized.

Born Dead

And you who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him having forgiven us all our trespasses.
                                                                                                                                      - Colossians 2:13


The phrase "born dead" is an oxymoron. How can one be alive and dead at the same time? Well, that is the way all mankind is born due to Adam and Eve's original sin in the Garden of Eden. Man is physically alive, but spiritually dead. He has no life inside of him - a zombie, a corpse - seriously living on borrowed time.

Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day, "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which appear beautiful, but within (italics added) are full of dead people's bones and all uncleaness. So you outwardly appear righteous, but within (italics added) you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matt 23:27-28).

            This is a vivid description of the living dead.

The prophet Isaiah 59:1-17 sums up the sinner's predicament perfectly.

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened,

That it cannot save;

Nor His ear heavy,

That it cannot hear 

2 

But your iniquities have separated you from your God;

And your sins have hidden His face from you,

So that He will not hear.

3 

For your hands are defiled with blood,

And your fingers with iniquity;

Your lips have spoken lies,

Your tongue has muttered perversity.

4 

No one calls for justice,

Nor does any plead for truth.

They trust in empty words and speak lies;

They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.

5 

They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider’s web;

He who eats of their eggs dies,

And from that which is crushed a viper breaks out.

6 

Their webs will not become garments,

Nor will they cover themselves with their works;

Their works are works of iniquity,

And the act of violence is in their hands.

7 

Their feet run to evil,

And they make haste to shed innocent blood;

Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;

Wasting and destruction are in their paths.

8 

The way of peace they have not known,

And there is no justice in their ways;

They have made themselves crooked paths;

Whoever takes that way shall not know peace

9 

Therefore justice is far from us,

Nor does righteousness overtake us;

We look for light, but there is darkness!

For brightness, but we walk in blackness!

10 

We grope for the wall like the blind,

And we grope as if we had no eyes;

We stumble at noonday as at twilight;

We are as dead men in desolate places.

11 

We all growl like bears,

And moan sadly like doves;

We look for justice, but there is none;

For salvation, but it is far from us.

12 

For our transgressions are multiplied before You,

And our sins testify against us;

For our transgressions are with us,

And as for our iniquities, we know them:

13 

In transgressing and lying against the Lord,

And departing from our God,

Speaking oppression and revolt,

Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

14 

Justice is turned back,

And righteousness stands afar off;

For truth is fallen in the street,

And equity cannot enter.

15 

So truth fails,

And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him

That there was no justice.

16 

He saw that there was no man,

And wondered that there was no intercessor;

Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him;

And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.

17 

For He put on righteousness as a breastplate,

And a helmet of salvation on His head;

He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,

And was clad with zeal as a cloak. 

With this clearly speaks of is man's inability and unwillingness to come to the Lord on his own. There isn't a vestige of virtue in man to do that. Why? Because man loves his sin and continually walks in darkness. Unregenerate man never runs to God, he runs away from God, lest he comes to the light of the gospel truth and his sins are exposed (John 3:20). God alone is the one who HAS the power save us or else no one can ever be saved.

In Romans 8:6-8 we read, "For to set the mind on the flesh is death (the state of the unbeliever), but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile toward God, for it does not submit to the law of God; indeed it can not. Those who are in the flesh can not please God."

The carnal man that is devoid of the Spirit can do nothing no matter how philanthropic, benevolent, or noble to please his maker because it comes from a wicked heart; it's self righteousness. Man's righteousness the  bible says is a filthy rag (Isaiah 64:6)

Proverbs 15:8 says, "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight."

Proverbs 21:27 says, "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more he when brings it with evil intent."

God despises the wicked's sacrifices and gifts. They do not glorify Him at all.

         The sinners works are just as dead as they are.

Realizing that man is totally impotent due to his deadness in his sins is there a cure? Can man somehow be resurrected from spiritual  dead unto spiritual life? Here's the answer:

"How can a young man (or woman) keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word."
(Psalm 119:9).

The first thing the sinner has to do is expose themselves to the power of God's word for it saves all those  who believe [italics added for emphasis (Romans 1:16)].

The preaching of the gospel will convict all of sin so that their evil deeds are exposed so that upon receiving positively the gospel message, one is granted repentance and faith to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (2 Tim 2:25; Eph 2:8,9). This is all God's doing. Since a dead man can not do anything but be dead, God has to bring him back to life.

Romans 6:5 says, "For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His."

When Jesus died for our sins on the cross, the above passage says we died with Him; obviously not literally, but spiritually by faith. When he rose from the grave, that power raised us from our spiritual graves. We were infused with life on the inside. Our spirits were made alive by his resurrection when we believed. This speaks  of our identity with him in death and life.

Ephesians 2:1-6, says, "And you who were dead in trespasses and sins (italics added) in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air (the devil, italics added), the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature (i.e. our Adamic nature) children of wrath even as the others. But God (not us) who is rich in mercy because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses (italics added) made us alive (italics added) together with Christ - by grace you have been saved, and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

Very rich and powerful revelation from the apostle Paul. He clearly explains fallen man's condition before divine intervention. Only God has the power to raise the dead. God is aggressive in the regeneration process. Man is a sole benefactor and adds nothing to this process for he is dead prior to God commanding him to rise from his deadness so that he can have of newness life.

In the final analysis, all those that are forgiven of sin are those who are alive to God and dead to sin. The role has been reversed for us - we're no longer living for sin and dead to God. We must understand this truth.

Those who refuse to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ are just the like religious leaders Jesus rebuked in Matthew 23:27-28 - their appearance is beautiful on the outside, but inside their dead rotteness bones who's sinful stench reaches up to heaven which is an affront to a holy God.

Their damnation is wide awake now unless they repent, otherwise they will die eternally (2 Peter 2:3).